Perennial wheat

Abstract: Perennial wheat is a new cereal crop being researched at several different institutions worldwide. The main purpose of developing this new crop is to reduce negative impact on the environment from crop production and to maintain production with lesser inputs. This is a bachelor thesis aiming at providing an overview of the current knowledge concerning perennial wheat research through a literature review. This review is limited to research regarding hybrids between wheat and the wild wheat relatives of Thinopyrum sps, and their potential as grain crops. Biologically, the hybrids show good potential but yield remains low. The hybrids currently tested are most suitable for marginal lands with high risk of soil erosion, or as a dual purpose crop where the post reproductive-cycle re-growth is utilized as forage. Efforts should be made to create a large gene pool within the new hybrid, from which further breeding may be carried out.